JP2012166892A - Paper loading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image loading device which can sort recording papers in a sorting unit appropriately even when the number of recording papers on a tray increases.SOLUTION: Every time a print job occurs, time T required for shift movement corresponding to one cycle of a paper ejection tray is measured (step S1), and among time t required for shift movement corresponding to one pitch of the paper ejection tray obtained by dividing the time T, a minimum divided value shorter than time between papers which is a time interval for carrying recording papers in a paper carrying system is determined as a shift dividing number N (step S9). Then, until the time T required for shift movement corresponding to one cycle is measured again and updated in, for example, shift control (step S13) (step S17; No), every time the sorting unit is switched, a pitch obtained by dividing the amount of shift movement corresponding to one cycle of the paper ejection tray by the determined shift dividing number N is set as a pitch when the paper ejection tray performs shift movement.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet stacking apparatus that performs shift sorting of printed recording sheets in a printing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a paper stacking device having a function of sorting recording paper printed by a printing device into sorting units (print job unit, printing copy unit, page unit for printing multiple sheets, etc.) has been provided. As one of the representative ones, there is known a shift sorting method that shifts the position of a tray that receives discharged printed recording paper in the paper width direction for each sorting unit.

  In the shift sorting type paper stacking apparatus, the position of the recording paper on the tray can be shifted for each sorting unit by changing the tray position in the paper width direction for each sorting unit. For this reason, even when recording sheets of a plurality of sorting units are discharged on the tray, the bundle of recording sheets of each sorting unit can be distinguished.

  As an example of the shift sorting type paper stacking apparatus described above, there is one in which both end positions in the paper width direction are used as tray stop positions. In such a paper stacking apparatus having two stop positions, a bundle of recording sheets for each sorting unit is stacked with the positions shifted alternately in the paper width direction. Therefore, if one bundle is pulled out and the upper and lower bundles directly overlap each other, the bundles are sorted at the same position in the sheet width direction, and the sorting unit cannot be distinguished.

  Therefore, a paper stacking apparatus has been proposed in which stop positions are added at one or more positions in addition to both end positions in the paper width direction. In this paper stacking device, the tray reciprocates between both end positions in the paper width direction while sequentially moving the stop position next to each time the sorting unit changes.

  According to such a paper stacking apparatus having three or more stop positions, even when one bundle is pulled out from among a plurality of stacked bundles, the upper and lower bundles are sorted at different positions in the paper width direction. Therefore, it is possible to continue to distinguish the sorting units (for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, there is a problem that cannot be solved even if the stop position is increased from two to three or more. This is a problem when the number of recording sheets on the tray increases, the torque required to move the tray increases due to its weight, and the load on the motor, which is the drive source for moving the tray, increases and the moving speed of the tray decreases. . That is, when the tray moving speed decreases, there is a possibility that the tray cannot be moved to the next stop position before the recording paper of the next sorting unit is discharged when the sorting unit is switched.

  Therefore, when the tray stop position is switched from one end to the other end in the paper width direction in accordance with the switching of the sorting unit, the time required for the change is equal to the recording sheet discharged at the end of the previous sorting unit and the next sorting unit. There has been proposed a paper stacking device that controls the movement of the stop position of the tray based on the result compared to the difference in paper discharge time from the recording paper that is discharged first.

  In this paper stacking apparatus, when the time required for switching the tray stop position from one end to the other end in the paper width direction is longer than the difference between the discharge time of the last recording unit and the first recording paper, The stop position is switched from one end in the sheet width direction to the middle in the sheet width direction instead of the other end. Further, when the intermediate stop position is not in time, the movement of the tray itself is stopped (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-8-217315 JP 2006-219264 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image stacking apparatus that can appropriately sort recording sheets into sorting units even when the number of recording sheets on a tray increases.

In order to achieve the above object, the paper stacking apparatus according to the present invention described in claim 1 includes:
Each time the sorting unit of the printed recording paper is switched, the position of the tray from which the recording paper is discharged is moved in the paper width direction that intersects the paper discharge direction of the recording paper, thereby the recording paper on the tray. In the paper stacking device that sorts by sorting unit,
Required time measuring means for measuring the time required for the tray to move between both ends of the moving range in the paper width direction each time a predetermined condition is established in relation to printing on the recording paper;
A proportional number determining means for determining a prorated number of the required time within which the required time after apportioning the required time is within the discharge interval of the recording paper every time the predetermined condition is satisfied;
Controls movement of the tray so that the tray moves in the paper width direction by a pitch that is proportional to the moving range by the proportional number determined by the proportional number determination means each time the recording paper sorting unit is switched. Tray movement control means,
It is characterized by providing.

  According to the paper stacking apparatus of the present invention described in claim 1, when the recording paper on the tray increases and the moving speed of the tray decreases due to its weight, the required time that is measured every time the predetermined condition is satisfied becomes long. . Then, the prorated number for making the required time after apportioning the apportioning time within the recording paper discharge interval increases, and the pitch when the tray moves is shortened each time the recording paper sorting unit is switched.

  Therefore, even if the moving speed of the tray decreases due to the weight of the recording paper, the tray can be reliably moved to the next position when the sorting unit is switched. As a result, even when the number of recording sheets on the tray increases, the recording sheets can be appropriately sorted into sorting units.

  The paper stacking apparatus of the present invention described in claim 2 is the paper stacking apparatus of the present invention described in claim 1, wherein the tray moving means moves the tray from one end to the other end of the moving range. And further includes a moving time measuring means for measuring the moving time required for the movement, and an updating means for updating the required time to the moving time measured by the moving time measuring means, However, each time the updating means updates the required time, the proportional number is determined as the predetermined condition is satisfied.

  According to the paper stacking apparatus of the present invention described in claim 2, in the paper stacking apparatus of the present invention described in claim 1, every time the tray moves from one end of the moving range to the other end in order to sort the recording paper. The required time is updated to the travel time required for the movement, and the prorated number of the movement range is changed to a number corresponding to the required time after the update. For this reason, it is possible to frequently change the movement pitch of the tray according to the change in the amount of recording paper on the tray.

  Furthermore, the sheet stacking apparatus of the present invention described in claim 3 is the image forming apparatus of the present invention described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the tray movement control means is configured such that the pitch is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. , And control for prohibiting movement of the tray in the paper width direction.

  According to the paper stacking apparatus of the present invention described in claim 3, in the paper stacking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, the time required for the tray to move from one end to the other end of the moving range becomes long. When the determined proportional number increases and the tray movement pitch becomes shorter than the threshold, the tray does not move even when the sorting unit is switched. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the tray moving pitch from being shortened until it becomes difficult to distinguish between the recording sheets of each sorting unit discharged to the tray before and after the movement.

  According to the present invention, even when the number of recording sheets on the tray increases, the recording sheets can be appropriately sorted into sorting units.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a multifunction machine including a paper stacking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the mechanism part of the paper stacking apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a mechanism portion of the paper stacking apparatus of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the tray drive unit of FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the paper stacking apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which CPU of FIG. 5 performs according to a program. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which CPU of FIG. 5 performs according to a program. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which CPU of FIG. 5 performs according to a program. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which CPU of FIG. 5 performs according to a program. FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing an example of an operation when the movement of the paper discharge tray is controlled by the processing procedure of the flowcharts of FIGS.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital multi-function peripheral having a paper stacking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  A multifunction device 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a printing function for forming characters and images on a recording sheet S as a copy or printer. A sheet stacking apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided on the side of the housing of the multifunction device 100 in order to receive the printed recording paper S discharged from the multifunction device 100.

  As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 2, the paper stacking apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a paper discharge tray 5 disposed on the unit base 3. As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 3, the slide plate 7 is screwed to the back surface of the paper discharge tray 5. The slide plate 7 has two sets of two guide rollers 7a and 7a.

  A pair of guide frames 3 a and 3 a are attached to the upper surface of the unit base 3 in parallel. Each guide frame 3 a extends in a paper width direction B orthogonal to the paper discharge direction A of the printed recording paper S discharged onto the paper discharge tray 5.

  A tray drive unit 9 is provided on the upper surface of the unit base 3. The tray drive unit 9 is configured as shown in the enlarged perspective view of FIG. 4 in a state of being removed from the unit base 3 and viewed from the back side.

  That is, the tray drive unit 9 includes a motor 9a, a worm 9c that is rotationally driven by the motor 9a via a belt pulley mechanism 9b, a worm gear 9d that meshes with the worm 9c, and a location that is eccentric from the rotational center of the worm gear 9d. And a transmission pin 9e penetrating therethrough.

  The worm 9c and the worm gear 9d are rotatably supported by the unit base 3. The transmission pin 9e extends in parallel with the rotational axis of the worm gear 9d, and the tip of the transmission pin 9e protrudes on the surface of the worm gear 9d (the back side of the paper in FIG. 4). On the back surface of the worm gear 9d (the front surface in FIG. 4), a light-shielding piece 9f that is semicircular in a plan view and is thin is provided on a concentric circle with the rotation shaft of the worm gear 9d.

  A shift home position sensor (hereinafter abbreviated as “shift HP sensor”) 11 for detecting the light shielding piece 9 f is attached to the upper surface of the unit base 3. In this embodiment, the shift HP sensor 11 is configured by a photo interrupter. The detection optical axis (not shown) of the shift HP sensor 11 is blocked by the light shielding piece 9f of the worm gear 9d when the rotation angle of the worm gear 9d with respect to the unit base 3 is 0 ° to 180 °.

  When the paper discharge tray 5 with the slide plate 7 screwed to the back surface shown in FIG. 3 is arranged on the unit base 3, the two guide rollers 7 a and 7 a of each set of the slide plate 7 are attached to the upper surface of the unit base 3. Roll each one. A long hole 7 b formed in the slide plate 7 extends in the paper discharge direction A of the recording paper S. And the front-end | tip of the transmission pin 9e of the tray drive unit 9 is loosely inserted in this long hole 7b.

  Therefore, when the worm gear 9d of the tray drive unit 9 is rotated once by the power of the motor 9a, the slide plate 7 through the discharge plate 7 whose discharge in the discharge direction A is restricted by the guide frame 3a on which the guide rollers 7a and 7a roll. The tray 5 reciprocates once in the paper width direction B. In the following description, both ends of the movement range of the paper discharge tray 5 in the paper width direction B may be referred to as a front end stop position and a rear end stop position as shown in FIG.

  The motor 9a of the tray drive unit 9 described above is driven and controlled by the control unit 20 shown in the block diagram of FIG. 5 together with the paper conveyance system and the printing unit (none of which are shown) of the multifunction machine 100.

  The control unit 20 has a CPU 21 and a memory 23. The memory 23 includes a read-only ROM and a read / write RAM. The ROM stores a program related to processing performed by the CPU 21. A working area or the like necessary for the CPU 21 to perform various processes is secured in the RAM.

  Connected to the CPU 21 are a motor 9 a of the tray drive unit 9, a shift HP sensor 11, and an inter-paper time detection sensor 13 provided in a paper transport system (not shown) of the multifunction peripheral 100. The inter-paper time detection sensor 13 detects a time interval during which the recording paper S is conveyed in the multifunction peripheral 100 as the inter-paper time. The inter-paper time detection sensor 13 may be arranged on either the upstream side or the downstream side in the paper conveyance system with respect to the printing unit (not shown) of the multifunction peripheral 100.

  Next, a processing procedure related to the shift movement of the paper discharge tray 5 in the paper width direction B, which is executed by the CPU 21 according to the program stored in the ROM of the memory 23, will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. .

  The CPU 21 executes the process of the procedure shown in FIG. 6 with a trigger that a print job for printing on the recording paper S is received by the multifunction peripheral 100. First, the CPU 21 executes a shift time measurement process for the paper discharge tray 5 (step S1). This shift time is the time required for the paper discharge tray 5 to move one way in the paper width direction B between the front end stop position and the rear end stop position shown in FIG.

  In the shift time measurement process in step S1, the CPU 21 checks whether or not the front end (or rear end) of the light shielding piece 9f of the tray drive unit 9 is detected as shown in FIG. 7 (step S101). Here, the front end of the light shielding piece 9f refers to the circumferential direction of the worm gear 9d that is located on the detection optical axis of the shift HP sensor 11 when the paper discharge tray 5 is at the front end stop position (or the rear end stop position). One end (or the other end).

  When the detection signal of the light shielding piece 9f input from the shift HP sensor 11 to the CPU 21 changes from OFF to ON (or from ON to OFF), the CPU 21 detects the front end (or rear end) of the light shielding piece 9f of the tray drive unit 9. Judge that you are doing. If the front end (or rear end) of the light shielding piece 9f is detected (YES in step S101), it is assumed that the paper discharge tray 5 is at the front end stop position (or rear end stop position), and the process proceeds to step S107 described later. To do.

  On the other hand, when the front end (or rear end) of the light shielding piece 9f is not detected (NO in step S101), the CPU 21 determines that the paper discharge tray 5 is not at the front end stop position (or the rear end stop position). A shift operation is started (step S103). The tray shift operation is started by starting to rotate the stopped motor 9a of the tray drive unit 9 in a predetermined direction. Thereafter, the CPU 21 confirms again whether or not the front end (or rear end) of the light shielding piece 9f has been detected (step S105).

  If the front end (or rear end) of the light shielding piece 9f is not detected (NO in step S105), the CPU 21 assumes that the paper discharge tray 5 has not reached the front end stop position (or rear end stop position). Step S105 is repeated until the front end (or rear end) of the light shielding piece 9f is detected (YES in step S105).

  On the other hand, when the front end (or rear end) of the light shielding piece 9f is detected (YES in step S105), the CPU 21 determines that the paper discharge tray 5 has reached the front end stop position (or rear end stop position) in step S107. The process is transferred to.

  In step S <b> 107, the CPU 21 starts a tray shift operation of the paper discharge tray 5 with an elapsed time count. Here, the elapsed time is an elapsed time after the discharge tray 5 starts to shift from the front end stop position to the rear end stop position (or from the rear end stop position to the front end stop position) by the rotation of the motor 9a. It is. The elapsed time can be counted using a timer function using the clock of the CPU 21.

  Then, the CPU 21 checks whether or not the rear end (or front end) of the light shielding piece 9f is detected (step S109). If not detected (NO in step S109), the CPU 21 assumes that the paper discharge tray 5 has not reached the rear end stop position (or front end stop position) and determines the rear end (or front end) of the light shielding piece 9f. Step S109 is repeated until it is detected (YES in step S109).

  On the other hand, when the rear end (or front end) of the light shielding piece 9f is detected (YES in step S105), the CPU 21 determines that the paper discharge tray 5 has reached the rear end stop position (or front end stop position). The tray shift operation of the tray 5 is finished together with the elapsed time count. The tray shift operation is terminated by stopping the rotating motor 9a.

  Then, the CPU 21 shifts the count value of the elapsed time that has been completed to the time required for shifting the discharge tray 5 from the front end stop position to the rear end stop position (or from the rear end stop position to the front end stop position). The movement time is stored in the RAM of the memory 23. This completes the shift time measurement process.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 6, following the shift time measurement process in step S <b> 1, the CPU 21 starts passing the recording sheet S to the sheet transport system of the multifunction peripheral 100 (step S <b> 3). Here, the paper passing means that the recording paper S is sequentially supplied from the supply tray (not shown) of the recording paper S to the paper transport system. Then, the CPU 21 measures the sheet interval time of the recording sheet S in the sheet conveyance system based on the input interval of the detection signal of the sheet interval detection sensor 13 in FIG. 5 (step S5), and stores the measured sheet interval time in the memory. 23 is stored in the RAM (step S7).

  Subsequently, the CPU 21 executes a process for determining the shift division number of the paper discharge tray 5 (step S7). Here, the number of shift divisions is determined in order to determine how much the size divided between the front end stop position and the rear end stop position is one pitch of the shift movement of the discharge tray 5 in the paper width direction B. . That is, the shift division number is a proportional number of dimensions between the front end stop position and the rear end stop position.

  In the process of determining the shift division number in step S7, the CPU 21 assumes that the shift division number N is “2” as shown in FIG. Set t = T / N. Here, T is a time required for one cycle required for the shift movement of the paper discharge tray 5. One cycle of the shift movement is a shift movement from the front end stop position to the rear end stop position (or from the rear end stop position to the front end stop position).

  Next, it is confirmed whether or not the required time t for one pitch of the shift movement is shorter than the paper interval time stored in the memory 23 in step S7 of FIG. 6 (step S903). If it is not shorter than the paper interval (NO in step S903), the shift division number N is incremented by “1”, and the required time t for one pitch of the shift movement is incremented by “1”. After updating to t = T / N using N (step S905), the process returns to step S903.

  On the other hand, when the required time t for one pitch of the shift movement is shorter than the paper interval time (YES in step S903), the variable M is set to the shift division number N (step S907), and the shift division number determination processing is performed. Exit. This variable M is used when performing control to shift the discharge tray 5 by one pitch.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 6, the CPU 21 confirms whether or not a tray shift request has occurred following the shift division number determination processing in step S9 (step S11). This tray shift request is generated when the sorting unit of the printed recording paper S discharged to the paper discharge tray 5 changes.

  Here, the sorting unit is, for example, when the recording paper S is sorted into the number of copies when printing a plurality of copies in one print job, or the recording paper S is set as a page when printing a plurality of sheets with one print job. Is a unit of the recording paper S to be sorted. As will be described later, when printing processing related to a plurality of print jobs is continuously performed by the multifunction peripheral 100, the recording sheets S to be sorted when sorting the recording sheets S to be discharged to the discharge tray 5 for each print job. This unit also corresponds to the sorting unit here.

  If no tray shift request has occurred (NO in step S11), the process proceeds to step S15 described later. On the other hand, when a tray shift request is generated (YES in step S11), a shift control process is performed (step S13).

  In the shift control process of step S13, as shown in FIG. 9, a value L / N obtained by dividing the shift movement amount L for one cycle of the discharge tray 5 by the shift division number N is a predetermined shift limit movement amount. It is confirmed whether or not X (corresponding to a threshold value in the claims) or more (step S1301). Here, the shift limit moving amount is recognized by actually distinguishing the recording sheets S of each sorting unit when the recording sheets S of each sorting unit are shifted in the sheet width direction B and discharged to the discharge tray 5. This is the minimum amount of shift that can be done. This shift limit movement amount can be stored in the RAM of the memory 23.

  If the value L / N is not equal to or greater than the shift limit movement amount X (NO in step S1301), the shift control process is terminated. If the value L / N is equal to or greater than the shift limit movement amount X (YES in step S1301), the CPU 21 determines the elapsed time. Is started (step S1303).

  Next, the CPU 21 checks whether or not the variable M set in step S907 in the shift division number determination process in FIG. 8 is “1” (step S1305). If the variable M is “1” (YES in step S1305), the process proceeds to step S1311 described later.

  On the other hand, when the variable M is not “1” (NO in step S1305), the CPU 21 determines whether or not the elapsed time count value has reached the required time t for one pitch of the shift movement of the discharge tray 5. Confirmation is made (step S1307).

  If the count value of the elapsed time has not reached the required time t for one pitch (NO in step S1307), the CPU 21 assumes that the discharge tray 5 has not finished shifting by one pitch, and the count value is 1. Step S1307 is repeated until the required time t for the pitch is reached (YES in step S1307).

  On the other hand, if the count value reaches the required time t for one pitch (YES in step S1307), the CPU 21 assumes that the discharge tray 5 has been shifted by one pitch, and the tray shift of the discharge tray 5 is completed. The operation is terminated together with the elapsed time count, and the variable M is decremented by “1”. Then, the shift control process ends.

  In step S1305, when the variable M is “1” (YES), in step S1311, it is confirmed whether or not the front end (or rear end) of the light shielding piece 9f of the tray drive unit 9 is detected. If not detected (NO in step S1311), the CPU 21 assumes that the paper discharge tray 5 has not reached the front end stop position (or the rear end stop position), and determines the front end (or rear end) of the light shielding piece 9f. Step S1311 is repeated until it is detected (YES in step S1311).

  On the other hand, when the front end (or rear end) of the light shielding piece 9f is detected (YES in step S1311), the CPU 21 determines that the paper discharge tray 5 has reached the front end stop position (or rear end stop position). The tray shift operation of the tray 5 is ended together with the elapsed time count (step S1313).

  Then, the CPU 21 sets the required time T for one cycle of the shift movement of the paper discharge tray 5 to {(T / N) × (N−1)} + count value (the count value of the elapsed time ended in step S1313). (Step S1315), the shift control process is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S15 in FIG.

  Here, in {(T / N) × (N−1)} + count value corresponding to the required time T after the update, the portion “{(T / N) × (N−1)}” is This means the total time for shifting the paper discharge tray 5 by one pitch while managing the paper discharge tray 5 at the required time t by the processing executed in steps S1307 and S1309.

  In addition, the remaining “count value” part is managed by the position until the paper discharge tray 5 reaches the front end stop position (or the rear end stop position) instead of the required time t by the processing executed in steps S1311 and S1313. However, it means the time when the last one pitch shift movement of one cycle is performed.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 6, when the tray shift request is not generated in step S <b> 11 (NO), and after finishing the shift control processing step of step S <b> 13, the CPU 21 records the recording paper printed on the paper discharge tray 5. S is discharged (step S15), and it is confirmed whether or not the discharge of the recording paper S of the number of sheets fed (not shown) from the supply tray (not shown) to the paper transport system is completed (step S17). .

  If not completed (NO in step S17), the process returns to step S9. If completed (YES in step S17), the series of processes is terminated.

  As is clear from the above description, in the present embodiment, steps S107 to S113 in the flowchart of FIG. 7 are processing corresponding to the required time measuring means in the claims. In the present embodiment, step S9 in the flowchart of FIG. 6 and each step shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 are processing corresponding to the proration number determining means in the claims.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, steps S11 and S13 in FIG. 6 and each step shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 are processing corresponding to the tray movement control means in the claims. Further, in the present embodiment, step S1315 in FIG. 9 is processing corresponding to the travel time measuring means and the updating means in the claims.

  In this embodiment, when the MFP 100 receives a print job for printing on the recording paper S and starts the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 6, or in step S1313 of FIG. 9, the tray shift of the discharge tray 5 is performed. When the operation is terminated, the predetermined condition in the claims is established.

  Next, an example of the operation when the CPU 21 controls the movement of the paper discharge tray 5 according to the processing procedure shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 to 9 will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG.

  In FIG. 10, the upper stage shows the ON / OFF state of the shift motor (motor 9a of the tray drive unit 9), and the lower stage shows ON (during detection) / OFF (non-detection) of the detection signal of the light shielding piece 9f by the shift HP sensor 11. Middle).

  First, when the CPU 21 receives a print job, the motor 9a of the tray drive unit 9 is turned on by an amount necessary for the discharge tray 5 that is stopped at the front end stop position to move to the rear end stop position. In the example of FIG. 10, accordingly, the detection signal of the shift HP sensor 11 is turned ON over the period of the required time T for one cycle of the paper discharge tray 5.

  Therefore, based on the length of the ON period of the detection signal of the shift HP sensor 11, the required time T for one cycle of the paper discharge tray 5 is measured. Then, based on the measured required time T, the minimum value of the shift division number N at which the required time t for one pitch of the shift movement of the discharge tray 5 is shorter than the inter-sheet time of the recording paper S is determined. .

  If the shift division number N is determined to be “2”, as shown in FIG. 10, when the sorting unit of the recording paper S is first switched, the motor 9 a It is turned on over a period T / 2 which is half of the required time T for the period. As a result, the discharge tray 5 at the rear end stop position is moved over the period T / 2 toward the intermediate stop position set between the rear end stop position and the front end stop position as a shift movement of the first pitch. To shift.

  After the discharge tray 5 at the rear end stop position is shifted toward the intermediate stop position over the period T / 2, when the sorting unit of the recording paper S is next switched, the detection signal of the shift HP sensor 11 is detected. The motor 9a is turned on for a period α until the motor is switched from OFF to ON. As a result, the paper discharge tray 5 near the intermediate stop position shifts as the second pitch shift until it reaches the front end stop position.

  In this way, when the paper discharge tray 5 is shifted by one cycle from the rear end stop position to the front end stop position by a two-pitch shift movement, the time required for the shift movement of the first pitch paper discharge tray 5 T / The required time T for one cycle of the paper discharge tray 5 is updated to (T / 2) + α by adding 2 and the period α required for the shift movement of the paper discharge tray 5 at the second pitch.

  Therefore, while the paper discharge tray 5 is shifted by one cycle from the rear end stop position to the front end stop position, the weight of the recording paper S discharged to the paper discharge tray 5 increases, and one cycle of the paper discharge tray 5 occurs. When the time required for the shift movement becomes longer, the required time T for one cycle of the paper discharge tray 5 is updated at that time. Then, based on the updated required time T, the required time t for one pitch of the shift movement of the discharge tray 5 is shorter than the inter-sheet time of the recording paper S (the conveyance time interval of the recording paper S). The shift division number N is determined again.

  Assuming that the newly determined shift division number N is “3”, when the sorting unit of the recording paper S is switched for the first time, the motor 9 a takes the required time for one cycle of the paper discharge tray 5. It is turned on over a period T / 3 that is 1/3 of T. As a result, the discharge tray 5 at the front end stop position is shifted to the first position of the intermediate stop position set at two equal intervals between the front end stop position and the rear end stop position as a shift movement of the first pitch. Thus, the shift movement is performed over the period T / 3.

  After the discharge tray 5 at the front end stop position is shifted over the period T / 3 toward the first intermediate stop position, when the sorting unit of the recording paper S is next switched, the motor 9a is again turned on. Then, it is turned on over a period T / 3 that is 1/3 of the required time T for one cycle of the paper discharge tray 5. As a result, the discharge tray 5 near the first intermediate stop position is shifted over the period T / 3 toward the second intermediate stop position as a second pitch shift movement.

  When the paper discharge tray 5 at the first intermediate stop position shifts over the period T / 3 toward the second intermediate stop position, and when the sorting unit of the recording paper S is next switched, The motor 9a is turned on for a period β until the detection signal of the shift HP sensor 11 switches from OFF to ON. As a result, the discharge tray 5 near the second intermediate stop position shifts as the third pitch shift movement until it reaches the rear end stop position.

  In this way, when the discharge tray 5 is shifted by one pitch from the front end stop position to the rear end stop position by a three-pitch shift movement, the first and second pitch discharge trays 5 are shifted. The required time T for one cycle of the paper discharge tray 5 is updated to (2T / 3) + β obtained by adding the required time 2T / 3 and the period β required for the shift movement of the third pitch of the paper discharge tray 5. The

  According to the paper stacking apparatus 1 provided in the multifunction peripheral 100 of the present embodiment described above, every time a print job is generated, the paper discharge tray 5 is shifted by one cycle and the required time T is measured. The Then, among the prorated numbers that divide the required time T, the minimum prorated number that makes the required time t for shift movement for one pitch after apportionment is shorter than the inter-paper time in the paper transport system is determined as the shift division number N. Is done.

  Until the time T required for one cycle of the shift movement is updated by re-measurement or the like, the pitch when the paper discharge tray 5 shifts every time the sorting unit is switched is the determined shift division number N. The pitch is divided by.

  Therefore, when the number of recording sheets S on the paper discharge tray 5 increases and the moving speed of the paper discharge tray 5 decreases due to the weight, the number of shift divisions is increased each time the remeasured time T is increased. N is re-determined, the shift movement amount for one pitch of the paper discharge tray 5 is shortened, and the required time t is shortened.

  For this reason, even if the moving speed of the paper discharge tray 5 decreases due to the weight of the recording paper S, the paper discharge tray 5 can be reliably moved to the next stop position when the sorting unit is switched. Thereby, even if the recording paper S on the paper discharge tray 5 increases, the recording paper S can be appropriately sorted into sorting units.

  In this embodiment, each time the paper discharge tray 5 moves for one cycle from the front end stop position to the rear end stop position (or from the rear end stop position to the front end stop position), one print job is being executed. In addition, although the required time T for one cycle of the shift movement is updated, the configuration for that may be omitted. In that case, for example, when the discharge of the recording sheet S of the number of sheets to be passed is not completed in step S17 of FIG. 6 (NO), the process may return to step S11.

  However, as in the present embodiment, if it is configured to return to step S9 when the discharge of the recording sheets S of the number of sheets to be passed is not completed in step S17 of FIG. The shift movement amount for one pitch can be reset more frequently by re-determining the shift division number N than when the job is completed. Therefore, it is advantageous in that the shift movement amount for one pitch of the paper discharge tray 5 can be changed frequently according to the change in the movement speed of the paper discharge tray 5.

  In this embodiment, a value L / N obtained by dividing the shift movement amount L for one cycle of the discharge tray 5 by the shift division number N, that is, the shift movement amount for one pitch of the discharge tray 5 is shifted. If it is shorter than the limit movement amount X (NO in step S1301 in FIG. 9), even if a request for shift movement of the discharge tray 5 occurs (even if the sorting unit of the recording sheets S is switched), the discharge tray No shift movement of 5 was performed.

  A configuration for this purpose may be omitted, but if configured as in the present embodiment, the minimum shift amount that allows the recording sheets S of each sorting unit to be distinguished from each other in practice is set to the discharge tray 5. This is advantageous because it can be ensured as a shift movement amount of 1 pitch, and it is possible to practically sort the recording sheets S in the sorting unit by the shift movement of the discharge tray 5.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the case where the required time T required for the shift movement for one cycle of the discharge tray 5 is measured every time a print job is generated has been described as an example. The time required T may be measured using an event as a trigger.

  For example, the required time T may be measured every time the print operation by the print job is completed. If there is a print job waiting for the next print even after the print operation by the print job is completed, the required time T The required time T may be measured only after all the print jobs waiting for the printing operation are completed.

  The above-described event that triggers the measurement of the required time T, that is, the occurrence of a print job, the end of the print operation by the print job, and the end of all print jobs waiting for the print operation satisfy the predetermined condition in the present invention. Each is applicable. In addition, when the required time T is updated as in the present embodiment, an event serving as a trigger for performing the update is also an example of establishment of a predetermined condition in the present invention. Specifically, it is one pattern that satisfies the predetermined condition in the present invention that the discharge tray 5 finishes moving for one cycle from the front end stop position to the rear end stop position (or from the rear end stop position to the front end stop position). It can be.

  In this embodiment, the operation when the sorting unit is switched in one print job has been described as an example. However, when a plurality of print jobs are continuously executed by the multifunction peripheral 100, printing is performed. The present invention can also be applied to the case where the recording paper S to be discharged to the paper discharge tray 5 is sorted for each job.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper stacking device 3 Unit base 3a Guide frame 5 Discharge tray 7 Slide plate 7a Guide roller 7b Long hole 9 Tray drive unit 9a Motor 9b Belt pulley mechanism 9c Worm 9d Worm gear 9e Transmission pin 9f Shading piece 11 Shift home position (HP ) Sensor 13 Inter-paper time detection sensor 20 Control unit 21 CPU
23 Memory 100 Multifunction device A Paper discharge direction B Paper width direction S Recording paper

Claims (3)

Each time the sorting unit of the printed recording paper is switched, the position of the tray from which the recording paper is discharged is moved in the paper width direction intersecting with the recording paper discharge direction, so that the recording on the tray is performed. In a paper stacking device that sorts paper by sorting unit,
Required time measuring means for measuring the time required for the tray to move between both ends of the moving range in the paper width direction each time a predetermined condition is established in relation to printing on the recording paper;
A proportional number determining means for determining a prorated number of the required time within which the required time after apportioning the required time is within the discharge interval of the recording paper every time the predetermined condition is satisfied;
Each time the recording paper sorting unit is switched, the tray is moved so that the tray moves in the paper width direction by a pitch that is proportional to the moving range by the proportional number determined by the proportional number determining means. Tray movement control means for controlling,
A paper stacking apparatus comprising:   Each time the tray moves from one end to the other end of the moving range by the tray moving means, a moving time measuring means for measuring the moving time required for the moving, and the moving time measured by the moving time measuring means. Update means for updating the required time, and the prorated number determining means determines the prorated number that the predetermined condition is satisfied each time the update means updates the required time. The paper stacking apparatus according to claim 1.   3. The paper stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray movement control unit performs control for prohibiting movement of the tray in the paper width direction when the pitch is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. .

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